The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-09
A CUBAN EXECUTION.
Three Highwaymen shot by Spanish
soldiers.

Three Highwaymen shot by spanish
Soldiers.
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, March 26.-Three
murderers were shot this afternoon ON
| the outskirtssof the city at place mad.
famous by the shooting Of the crew Of the
| Nirginius. They were two molattoes
and an Indian. named Juan Jiques. Juan
Gomez. and Juan Socarros. Two years
| ago they conspired % capture a train of
pack mules laden with cocoa on road
near this city. They surprised the driver
and his assistant-a mere lad-cut them
down with machetes, long, sword-hke
| knives. tied them Ia trees, and practiced
shocking and revolving cruelties, Amer
lean Indian fashion, ON their victims un-
I'll they were dead. Later they sold the
cocoa Ia "A Spaniard from Catalonia for
| IL ounces, or x6s, and divided tha
money between them. The mules
they turned loose. The dead bodies
ribly mu.ilated were found, and a
search revealed all. The three men and
| the Spaniard were arrested and brought
Ia trial, The wealthy Spaniard got OF
with ten years in the chain gang, but his
men-the murderers-were condemned
To death. Many months passed, then
came the confirmation Of the sentence
| death 10y shooting. A pardon was asked
for and refused by the Queen of Spain.
Yesterday morning the men, according
Ia the Spanish custom, were placed in
the chapel OF the prison in charge Of
| priests and friars. For twenty -four hours
previous To death they were allowed
| anything they wished To eat, drink or
smoke. kThey sat the entire day smoking,
surrounded by "A company OF soldiers,
| priests "A al idle lookers-on. From time
to time the condemned men conversed
with the priests who were in attend
ance. and at the proper hour received
ha last rign nl l.a isath
Lost night Gomez made public confess
sion, acknowledging that he had killed
ten men, saying that he was ready 10
| die, and that his mother had seven more
sons like him who would ayenge his
death. The numbering proclivities In
his family are hereditary. The father
was one of Cuba's most notorious muir
derers.
All day yesterday crowds focked 10
see the men. The execution had been
named for "A. m. to-day, bun was de-
layed until 1880 o'clock this afternoon.
At IL O'Clock detachment OF police
reached the prison, followed by four
com ,,anies of the Fourth Regiment Of
Spain. Shortly afterward the procession
left the prison, the Gardia Civiie prece-
ding. Then came the crncihx, priests,
and prisolers. foot soldiers, and guards,
the whole followed by the Spanish in
fantry. Back of the priests a small cart.
dragged by mule and bearing the
prisoners, followed. Gomez acted like a
dru...aen man osi the way Ia the scene OF
the shooting, talking necessarily. Jiques'
courage gave out and he nearly tainted
when he was put upon the cart.
Fully 900 persons accompanied the
procession on the way Ia the Matadero
or public slaughter house. There the
troops formed three sides Of large
square, the fourth face being made by
a stone wall of the Matadero. The
square formed, the procession OF the
clergy and the condemned marched In,
Two bugle calls were sounded and. the
soldiers spraLg to attention" The fr.
ing party, numbering "a men armed
with ReInington:rifles, took their places.
The prisoners and clergy gathered near
the crucifix. Soon the priests Withdrew,
and the three prisoners knelt with their
faces To the wall and their backs 10 the
firing party. Gomez spoke up, and said
NV mother has seven children, and
am the most cowardly for allowing my
selr to be killed before 80 many people.
Sir Priest, give me a drop Of rum"
He got his drink. Al the first yolley
all fell shot through the head and body.
Gomez rolled over as II in pain, and two
more bullets were put into him. The In
dian still showed little life, and SOL
dier coolly stepped 10 the front and de-
liberately fired bullet through ms
head. A cart came in for the bodies
and all was over.